Italy recycles 98% of construction waste, leading Europe, but struggles with reuse in construction. Find out the challenges and opportunities.
Italy Leads Europe in Construction Materials Recycling
Italy has emerged as the European leader in recycling construction materials, achieving an impressive 98% recovery rate for inert waste. This surpasses Germany, which ranks second with 94%, followed by France, Spain, and Poland, each hovering around 74%. However, despite its excellence in recycling, Italy—and Europe as a whole—faces a significant challenge: the effective reuse of these recycled materials in construction remains alarmingly low.
Construction Materials: High Recycling, Minimal Reuse
A report by Seipa, a company specializing in construction and demolition materials and services, highlights a troubling disparity. While nearly all construction waste is recycled, the actual substitution rate in construction projects is just 0.4%. This near-zero replacement rate is not due to a lack of technology. As Seipa points out, “the issues lie in market dynamics and priorities.” Yet, the potential benefits of recycling, including environmental sustainability and long-term cost savings, are immense if properly leveraged.
A European Anomaly in Material Substitution
In the European Union, annual construction material consumption totals 1.094 billion tons, underscoring the construction sector’s pivotal role. The residential sector alone consumes three times more materials than public projects. According to Valter Ciaraffoni, Seipa’s General Manager, the low substitution rate is “an anomaly,” given that recycled aggregates meet the same technical standards as natural ones and are suitable for a wide range of applications.
Italy’s Construction Sector: Trends and Challenges
The Italian construction industry reached a valuation of €309 billion in 2022, driven by post-pandemic incentives such as the 110% Superbonus. However, residential construction activity contracted by 26.5% in 2024. This downturn was offset by public infrastructure investments, which rose by 19.8% in 2023 and are projected to grow another 11.4% in 2024. Looking ahead to 2025, the sector anticipates the implementation of the Aid Decree (Dl Aiuti), introducing new measures to support construction activities.
A Circular Economy Opportunity
The disparity between high recycling rates and minimal reuse highlights a missed opportunity to embrace circular economy principles in construction. Bridging this gap requires aligning industry practices with environmental and economic benefits, creating a more sustainable future for Europe’s construction sector.
